Match book cover



Patented N lay 7, 1940 OFFEE MATCH BOOK COVER Reni S. Berry, LosAngeles, Calif., assignor to Sydney J. Levy, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application October 26, 1938, Serial No. 237,153

7 Claims.

This invention relates to book matches of the character embodying abattery of matches mounted in a cover embodying a cover flap and aholding tongue and fitted with a striking surface; the present inventionmore particularly pertaining to the match book cover and the mode ofequipping same with a strikingsurface.

An object of the invention is to provide a construction and arrangementin match book covers of the above character whereby striking of thematch on the striking surface while the cover flap is open will berendered quite diflicult and such that the striking action will begreatly facilitated when the cover flap is closed so as to encourage thepractice of closing the cover flap before striking the match and thusminimize accidental ignition of the matches contained in the book byflame propagated from the struck match.

mented.

A further object is to provide a match book in which the strikingsurface is so arranged as to serve when the match book cover is in itsclosed position to yieldably resist disengagement of the cover flap fromthe holding tongue.

A further object is to provide an improved arrangement of .the strikingsurface on match books which while affording the advantageous featuresabove set forth will require no alteration in the mode of constructionand assembly of the match book other than as to the manner of applyingthe composition used in forming the match striking surface.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with such other objects andadvantages as may subsequently appear, the invention is carried intoeffect as illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the match book showing the cover thereofin a partly open position Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the match bookshowing the cover in its closed position and depicting the manner inwhich a match is applied to the striking surface;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail in section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a slightly modified form of theinvention; and

Fig. 5 is'an enlarged detail in section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.5 Referring to the drawing more specifically A indicates generally thematch book cover which embodies a back portion 6. one end. of whichterminates in a return, bend 1 between which and the back portion 6 isamxed a battery of 10 matches B as by means of .a staple 8, and theother end of which terminates in a cover flap 9 through a bendablesection Hi; the outer end of the cover flap being insertable under aholding tongue ll formed in continuation of the return bend 1. Thiscover A with its match assembly constitutes a conventional type of matchbook construction in which the cover is formed of a length of flexiblepaper and'the matches are formed of a paper ribbon l2 which is-slit toform a row of match stems I3 along one margin thereof and which stemsare fitted with match heads It at their outer ends; the matches beingenclosed inthe cover A when the cover flap 9 thereof is engaged underthe holding tongue II and b'eing exposed on swinging the cover flapoutwardly away from the holding tongue, and the matches being adapted tobe separated from the ribbon 12 by rending the stems 13 thereof from theribbon.

The present invention primarily resides in forming a striking surface Calong the margin of the holding tongue II in such manner that in orderto facilitate striking a match thereon. the cover flap 9 is to bedisposed in its closed position. As here shown this is accomplished byforming a bead l5 of match striking composition along the end edge ofthe tongue and also forming a narrow strip [6 of like compositiontransversely of the outer face of the cover flap 9 an upstandingshoulder along one marginal por tion of the strip l6 such as to serve asa guide for directing the head of a match along the strip l6. While thebead l5 and strip l6 may be formed of substantial widths it is desirableto the end of necessitating closing of-the cover leaf in order 5 toafford ample striking surface, that the bead I and strip I6 each be ofsuch narrowness as to render striking of a match thereon separatelyquite difficult if not impossible, but when the bead and strip arecombined with the bead I5 extending along the strip I6 with the latterexposed the requisite striking surface will be provided.

The strip I6 may be located on the flap 9 such that when the flap is inits closed position a portion of the strip I B will be exposed along thebead I5 as shown in Fig. 3, but manifestly the strip I6 may be solocated on the flap 9 that when the latter is in its fully closedposition the strip I6 will be concealed and covered by the holdingtongue II as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, in which latter arrangement thecover flap is to be partly withdrawn from engagement with the holdingtongue to expose the strip I6 as indicated by the dotted lines a in Fig.5. By thus concealing the striking strip I6 when the cover flap isclosed the strip is protected when not in use from deterioration as bycontact with moist hands and abrasive surfaces. formed by the bead I5will serve to some extent in protecting the surface of the exposed stripI6 from coming in contact with damaging surfaces. This protectivefeature enhances the durability of the striking compound.

Another advantageous feature derived from the employment of the pair ofcooperating striking ,elements I5 and I6 is that when the cover and aholdlng tongue, a striking bead on the end flap is closed a frictionalengagement between the bead I5 and strip I6 will be effected which byreason of the roughness of the contiguous surfaces of the strikingmaterial will serve to resist withdrawal of the cover flapfrom.engagement with the holding tongue, thus in effect releasablyfastening the cover flap in its closed position.

In equipping the tongue with the bead I5 the margin of the paper stripof which the tongue is formed is preferably dipped in a body of thestriking composition as by running the edge of the paper strip through afluid batch of the composition during the course of manufacture of thebook by the usual match book making machinery. However the bead I5 maybe applied to the edge of the tongue by applicator rollers as by passingthe edge of the paper strip over the periphery of a grooved rollerhaving a. portion of its' perimeter submerged in a batch of thecompound. In thus forming the bead the material thereof will overlie theedge of the tongue and will extend slightly along the marginal surfaceof each side thereof as shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

The operation of the invention is apparent from the foregoing, it beingseen that when the cover flap 9 ,is in its closed position with its'outer end underlying the holding tongue II, the

striking surface I6 may be positioned to protrude forward of the bead I5as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and as indicated in dotted lines a in Fig. 5.and thus provide adequate striking surface for a match D the head ll ofwhich is positioned with its tip on the surface I5 and with one sidethereof abutting the bead I5 as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3,whereupon the match head is drawn lengthwise of the striking strip, thatis transversely of the cover, as illustrated in Fig. 2, such as toeffect ignition of the match. The double contact of the bead I5 andstrip I 8 on the side and tip of the match head insures quick ignitingaction, while the shoulder afforded by the bead I5 acts to guide thematch along the striking surface and thus facilitate lighting of thematch However, the upstanding shoulderby the sense of feel as instriking the match in the dark. The important feature of the inventionresides in the fact that when the cover flap is open,

the bead I5 will present insufficient scratching surface to effect easyignition of the match, and the same is true as to the strip I6 with theadded condition of the strip being located on the free end of the coverflap such'that by reason of flexibility of the latter renders it quitediflicult to scratch a match.

While I' have shown and described a specific embodiment of my inventionI do not limit myself to the exact details of construction set forth,and the invention embraces such changes, modifications and equivalentsof the parts and their formation and arrangement as come within thepurview of the appended claims.

I claim:

said bead in an exposed position when the end of c said cover flap isengaged by said tongue, said bead and strip constituting collectively astriking surface and said bead forming a guide shoulder intermediate theedges of such surface.

2. In a match book cover having a cover flap face extending transverselyof said cover flap adjacent the outer end thereof arranged to be exposedalong the end edge of said tongue when said cover flap is in a partlyclosed position, and a strip. of striking material on the end edge ofsaid tongue cooperating with said strip of striking surface on said flapto afford a striking surface of greater width than is afforded by saidstrip or bead alone.

4. In a match book cover having a cover flap and a holding tonguearranged to overlap the outer end of said cover flap when the latter isin a closed position, a narrow strip of striking surface extendingtransversely of said cover flap adjacent the outer end thereof arrangedto be exposed along the end edge of said tongue when said cover flap isin a partly closed position, and a bead on the end edge of said tongueforming a guide shoulder lengthwise of said striking strip adjacent anedge thereof when said cover flap is in a closed or nearly closedposition.

5. In a match book cover having a cover flap and a holding tonguearranged for overlapped engagement of the outer end of said cover flap,a head of striking composition on the margin of said tongue presentedtoward said cover flap forming a,combined guide shoulder and strikingsurface along the end face of said tongue, and a striking strip on saidcover flap arranged to underlie said tongue in engagement with said beadwhen the outer" end of said cover flap is overlapped by said tongue toresist disengagement of the cover flap from said tongue,

6. In a'match book cover having a cover flap and a holding tonguearranged to overlap the outer end of said cover flap when the latter isin a closed position, a striking bead on the end edge of. said tongueprotruding on the underside thereof, a narrow strip of striking surfaceextending transversely of said cover flap adjacent the outer end thereofarranged to be exposed along the end edge of said tongue when said coverflap is in a partly closed position; said holding tongue having its endedge arrahged to form with said striking bead a guide shoulderprojecting outwardly from said striking surface when the outer end ofsaid cover flap is overlapped by said holding tonguewith said strikingsurface exposed contiguous the end edge of said tongue. and said stripof striking surface being engageahle with the protruding portion of saidbead to resist withdrawal of the end' portion of said cover flap frombeneath said-tongue.

7. In a match book cover having a cover flap and a holdingtonguearranged to overlap the outer end of said cover flap when the latter isin a closed position; a narrow strip of strikingsurface' extendingtransversely of said cover flap adjacent the outer end thereof arrangedto be exposed along the end edge of said tongue when said cover flap isin a partly closed position and to be concealed beneath said tongue onadvancing the cover flap to a fully closed position, and a striking beadon therend margin of said tongue protruding outwardly relative to saidstriking surface to form therewith a match guide when the cover fiap isin a partly closed position and being arranged to engage a side marginof said strip of striking surface when said cover flap is in its fullyclosed position to resist withdrawal of said cover flap ,from beneathsaid tongue.

. RENT-S. BERRY.

